PANAJI
During the international climate strikes on September 25, the youth from across Goa went on a twitter storm where they asked politicians to ‘stop tokenism about engagement, but to first revoke the clearances related to Mollem and then start discussions.’ After clearing three projects, Minister for Environment, Nilesh Cabral had stated that he wrote to the Centre about information related to the three projects in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
“This is ironic as the very proposals have been forwarded by his own State government which is now trying to feign ignorance,” said Adv Sreeja Chakraborty who went on to add public consultation and putting up information after clearances, bear no semblance of legal process or scrutiny. Researchers and lawyers have noted that forest clearance proposals with all relevant information (two transmission lines and approach road to substation) for which stage-1 forest clearance are granted on April 29 this year, were on MOEF’s web portal PARIVESH but state that they have ‘mysteriously disappeared’.
Adv Chakraborty added, “As per section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, State government cannot permit any diversion of forest unless prior permission of Centre is taken. The State gives the final order for forest diversion after stage 1 & 2 clearances from the MOEF. Thus, the final decision on forest diversion lies with the State and not Centre. Forest diversions are principally sought by the State on behalf of the project proponents from the Centre. The Goa government is very much aware of the details of the project since its very inception.”
It may be recalled that the State government gave details of these projects in the last Assembly session. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had tabled various questions on the three projects before the chief minister and forest minister of the State during the Assembly on July 26, 2020. The questions were answered by the chief minister on July 27, 2020, who affirmed that a total of 377.89 ha of forest land is required for the three projects.
“As per the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India, forest and wildlife appear on the concurrent list, thus the State and Centre has equal power to take decisions on them,” stated the Save Mollem Citizens Group.
It may be recalled that 20 lawyers wrote to the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court highlighting the lack of due process. The group added that with the passage of time, an even greater number of irregularities are being exposed about the lack of due process with respect to the clearance of projects in Mollem. Many of these same projects which are being evaluated in Karnataka are undergoing scrutiny.
